Davie men tussle over feeding community ducks

A fight between Davie neighbors about feeding a Muscovy duck and her ducklings sent one man to jail and another to a hospital.

The incident began Sunday at about 4 p.m. at the Park City West mobile home community at 10550 State Road 84. It has a lake and canal, and is popular with snowbirds and waterfowl alike.

As Quinten Putnam, 55, fed the ducks from his front yard, a neighbor argued with him. Putnam became angry because his neighbor had questioned him about feeding the birds before.

Putnam ran from his yard and tackled his neighbor, who is older than 65, a Davie police affidavit said.

Putnam struck his neighbor several times about the face and chest and, after standing, kicked his neighbor's side before going home, according to the affidavit.

The tussle was observed by an independent witness, police said.

Both men ended up with scrapes on their hands and knees, and the neighbor, who police did not identify, was taken to a hospital.

He received staples to a wound on the back of his head, Davie Police Capt. Dale Engle said.

The community has "a ton" of ducks and does not ban feeding, said Dee Gleason, president of Park City West's homeowner's association. "If neighbors feed them, there are arguments. People like the ducks. They're cute. But residents don't like what they leave behind."

Feeding Florida wildlife like bears or foxes or raccoons is against the law, and creating a nuisance situation by feeding wild animals is illegal, and can lead to a $500 fine, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission said.

It doesn't actively regulate and manage the Muscovy population, which is not native to the state, as it does with the Florida Mallard, which is protected.

During first appearance court on Monday, Broward County Judge John "Jay" Hurley ordered a $1,500 bond for Putnam, who was charged with battery on a person 65 years of age or older, a felony offense.

Hurley also told Putnam, who had a large bandage on his head, to stay 50 feet away from his neighbor.

"I'm going to order you not to feed the ducks, sir," Hurley said. "You're just creating a bigger problem by feeding the ducks."

Assistant public defender Michael Farbarik said Putnam told him it was a mother duck, with six little babies.

"OK, feed the babies, sir," Hurley said. "I'm an animal lover. But you know what happens. With the Muscovy ducks, the more you feed them, the more they populate."

Hurley added, "They're not even native. Without getting into a duck-intensive discussion here, Muscovy ducks, they were brought here. And now it's out of control."